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June 19, 1962
w, HOBBS, JR
3,039,607
GRAIN BIN AND CLEANER
, JR.
M
A'rra mvß
June 19, 1962
W. Hoses, JR
3,039,607
GRAIN BIN AND CLEANER
Filed April l2, 1960
3 Sheets-Sheet 2
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June 19, 1962
w. HoBBs, .JR
3,039,607
GRAIN BIN AND CLEANER
Filed April 12, 1960
3 Sheets-Sheet 3
/NVENT'OR’
ilnited States Patentl nice
l
3,639,607
Patented June 19, 1962
2
jecting extension of said conveying means for delivery to
3,039,607
GRAIN BIN AND CLEANER
William Hobbs, Jr., Lancaster, Pa., assignor to Sperry
Rand Corporation, New Holland, Pa., a corporation of
Delaware
Filed Apr. 12, 1960, Ser. No. 21,664
14 Claims. (Cl. 209-133)
a truck or other conveying means, or the like, depending
solely upon the direction of rotation of the auger-type
conductor in said conveying means.
It is a further object of the invention to drive the auger
type conductor of the conveying means in the upper por
tion of the grain bin and the projection therefrom by a
feed auger in the lower portion of the grain bin and, in
This invention relates to improvements in a grain
the preferred embodiment of the invention, the driving
cleaner and, more particularly, a grain cleaner which, in 10 connection between said augers includes direction-revers
ing means selectively to rotate the auger-type conductor
the preferred embodiment of the invention, is combined
with a grain bin and the grain elevating and conducting
of the upper conveying means in either direction of ro
mechanism thereof.
tation for the purposes stated hereinabove.
Grain bins have been devised heretofore provided with
Still another object of the invention is to utilize the
grain elevators adjacent one end thereof, for example, 15 substantially vertical elevator as an air conduit having an
but said elevators primarily having been for a single pur
exit adjacent the upper end of the elevator, whereby as
pose, namely, either to deliver the elevated grain to the
the exemplary buckets of the elevator dump the grain
upper portion of the grain bin or to a truck or other con
therefrom adjacent the top of the elevator, said grain ac
tually will be thrown through space and thereby dispersed
veying means, as desired. A swiveled spout was asso
ciated with the upper end of the elevator, which spout 20 while being subjected to the column of air discharging
was moved so as to be directed either toward the upper
from the upper end of the elevator so that said air may
portion of the bin or toward a truck or conveyance posi
entrain foreign matter in said grain and remove it there
from.
A still further object of the invention ancillary to the
tioned adjacent the elevator.
Good farming practices also, preferably, contemplate
the storage of cleaned grain, as distinguished from grain 25 immediately foregoing object is to provide air exhaust
meansv at preferably variably locatable positions along
in the condition in which it is received from the thresher,
the horizontally extending grain conveying means at the
for example, containing dirt, chaff, and other foreign
matter. To this end, it has been customary to subject
upper portion of the grain bin, whereby foreign matter,
threshed grain to various kinds of cleaning processes em
such as dirt, chaff, and the like, may be blown through
ploying a separate cleaning machine designed for the 30 said discharge opening in said conveying means, While
single purpose of cleaning grain, and the like, this opera
tion being performed prior to the grain being conducted
the grain falls to the lower portion of said conveying
means and is moved by the rotating auger-type conductor
therein, -in cleaned condition, to the grain bin for storage
to a grain storage bin, regardless of whether the bin was of
' therein or drying operations, `as desired.
a stationary or portable type.
Grain bins also have been provided with drying means 35 Still another object of the invention is to provide means
associated with a grain bin and elevator thereon which is
of various types, certain of these types comprising air-cur
capable of cleaning grain either While it is being loaded
rent generating means adjacent one end of the bin, such
as power-driven fans of large capacity, the discharge from
into, or unloaded from, said grain bin.
Details of the foregoing objects and of the invention,
said fans being directed to the interior of the grain bin in
order that the air might circulate as freely as possible 40 as well -as other objects thereof, are set forth in the fol
lowing speciñcation and illustrated in the accompanying
through grain contained in the bin, this circulation being
continued until a desired amount of moisture had been re
moved from the stored grain. Under such circumstances,
drawings comprising a part thereof.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of an exemplary grain bin
the grain storage bin actually serves not only as a reser
voir for grain being dried but also circulative means to 45 and elevator embodying the principles of the present in
vention.
`
expedite drying and also prevent charring of at least cer
FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional
tain kinds of grains. It is not uncommon to completely
elevation taken on the line 2-2 of FIG. 1 for purposes
circulate the grain through the bin a number of times.
of illustrating certain details of the invention.
After the grain has been dried a desired or sufficient ex
FIG. 3 is a vertical, longitudinal fragmentary elevation
tent, the grain usually is removed to other storage means 50
in order that additional grain might be introduced into
the bin for drying thereof.
It is the principal object of the present invention to
utilize the basic structure of a grain bin and elevator there
as seen on the line 3_3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional elevation of the struc
ture shown in FIG. 3 as seen from the line 4-4 thereof.
FIG. 5 is a vertical end view of the grain bin and ele
for and, by including relatively simple additions and sup 55 vator as seen in FIG. l but employing a larger scale than
used in FIG. 1, said view being from the right-hand end
plementary mechanism thereto, utilize the resulting struc
of the bin and elevator shown in FIG. l.
ture to clean grain while being elevated, without addi
Referring to FIG. 1 particularly, it will be seen that
tional cost in operation or supplementary handling of the
the grain bin 10 has substantially vertical ends 12 and
grain in any way.
It is another object of the invention to add to a grain 60 14, the bin being broken along vertical lines intermedi
ately of the ends thereof in order to foreshorten the View.
bin and elevator structure having horizontal conveying
At least the lower portions of the Vertical sides 16 and
means at the upper portion thereof to deliver grain to the
1?» thereof are, preferably, substantially parallel and the
bin, an extension projecting outwardly from said upper
upper portions of said sides slope inwardly toward each
grain conveyor means which communicates with the eleva
tor, and further provide selectively reversible drive means 65 other at the top, as iS apparent from FIG. 5. The upper
ends o_f lthe inwardly sloping side plates 16 and 18 are
for a preferably auger type conductor of said grain con
spaced to provide a top opening 20 for the grain bin 10.
veying means, whereby when the grain is delivered by the
The grain bin 1i) may be either arranged for stationary
elevator to a level adjacent or above the upper portion of
positioning or to have suitable conventional Wheels
the grain bin, said grain conducting means can be operated
mounted thereon to render the same portable.
selectively either to direct the grain from the elevator into 70 As will be seen from FIGS. l and 5 particularly, the
the upper portion of the bin or into the outwardly pro
grain bin 10 shown herein is of the type having an air
3,039,607
3
type grain-drying unit 22 affixed to and communicating
with one end of at least the lower, central portion of
the grain bin l0, the unit 22 employing a fan 24 driven
by any suitable power means 26. By reference to FIG.
5, it will be seen that an air chamber 28 is arranged on
the interior and longitudinally of the grain bin lil to
receive air under pressure from the unit 22, said chamber
dividing at least the lower portion of the bin l@ into two
parallel compartments, The walls of the air chamber 28
4
the conductor auger 4S relative to the feed auger 50, it
being understood that, in the preferred embodiment of
the invention, the feed auger 5% is driven uni-direction
ally only. An exemplary illustration of the drive mech
anism is shown in FIGS. l and 5 and comprises endless
flexible means 56, such as a belt or sprocket chain, pass
ing around drive means SS, on one end of the shaft of
conductor auger 4S, and driven means 60 comprising
part of drive-changing unit 62 which, for convenience,
are suitably perforated, as are at least certain portions 10 may be mounted upon the end 12 of the grain bin 10
of the upper portions of the side walls i6 and f8 on the
exterior of the grain bin l0, whereby .air under pressure
from the unit 22 will circulate relatively freely and uni~
for support thereby. Additional flexible endless driving
means 64 extend around a suitable sprocket or pulley
on the end of the shaft of feed auger 50 opposite that
end which drives sprocket 36 and also around a driving
member 66 within the drive-changing unit 62, as best
formly, generally laterally, from the walls of chamber
23, through the grain, and out through the upper per
shown in FIG. 5.
forated portions of walls 16 and 18.
A manually movable shifting lever 68 is pivoted at 76
At the opposite end of the bin l0 from the unit 22 is
within the unit 62 and rotatably supports the driving
a substantially vertical grain elevator housing 30 which
member 66. The member 66 drives an idler-type driving
contains elevating means specifically comprising, in the
preferred embodiment, an endless, flexible bucket con 20 member 72 which is rotatably Supported also on the
shifting lever 68. Upon shifting the lever 68 between its
veyor 32 which passes around suitable sprockets 34 and
two extreme positions, either the driving member 66, or
36 for support and direction of movement. The upper
the idler-type driving member 72, selectively are brought
end of the elevator housing 39 preferably extends some
into engagement with driven member 74 which is fixed
what above the top 2li and said housing has an opening
38 formed by a short, diagonally downwardly extending 25 relative to the driven means 60 by which the flexible
means 56 and, correspondingly, conductor auger 48 is
closed chute 46 which discharges into a substantially
rotated selectively in opposite directions, depending upon
horizontal, preferably tubular, channel 42 which extends
the position of the shifting lever 68.
into and along the upper portion of the grain bin 10,
The extension 44 preferably is substantially semi-cylin
terminating in substantially spaced relationship to the
end l2 of said bin. The tubular channel 42 has dis 30 drical in the lower portion thereof so as to be comple
mentary in shape to the exterior of the conductor auger
charge openings spaced longitudinally therealong and
48 and relatively little space is provided therebetween, as
comprises conveyor means which has an axially out
is readily seen from FIGS. 2 and 3 especially. The sides
wardly extending portion or extension 44 for purposes
76 of the extension 44, however, preferably extend up in
to be described, it being understood that the extension
44 is preferably continuous in an axial direction with the 35 Substantially parallel relationship to each other and ver
tically to edges somewhat above the uppermost surface
tubular channel 42 and the two commonly communicate
with the closed chute 46 extending from the grain ele- ß
vator 30.
Supported, preferably, within suitable bearings at the
of the conductor auger 48, as is best shown in FIG. 3.
Said sides 76 terminate in horizontal flanges 78 for pur
poses of detachably receiving a plurality of cover plates
end 12 of the bin 10 and the outer end 46 of extension 40 3€). The entire -top of the extension 44, preferably, is
not covered by the plates 80, however, the object being
44 is a movable grain conductor 48 comprising, in the
to provide a space of desired Size and location, such as
preferred embodiment of the invention, a rotatable feed
auger of conventional type. Said conductor auger 4S
exemplary space 82, comprising an air current exhaust
is reversibly rotatable within its bearings at opposite ends
through which foreign material, such as chaif, dirt, and
thereof and is coaxially mounted within the tubular 45 the like, may be discharged upon separation thereof from
channel 42 and extension 44 thereof.
the grain, indicated in exemplary manner in FIGS. 3 and
Also extending substantially in parallel relationship to
4 by stippling.
the upper auger conductor 48, but rotatably mounted
In accordance with the principles of the invention, and
respectively in the two parallel lower portions of the bin
particularly that portion thereof relating to the cleaning
19, is a pair of feed angers 50, at least one of which is
of grain incidentally to elevating the same to the conduc
driven rotatably by any suitable means, such .as an aux
iliary motor or engine, not shown, or by a p.t.o. (power
takeoff) of a tractor or other suitable power source,
whichever is most convenient or available, the same not
tor means comprising tubular channel 42 and its exten
FIG. 5 particularly, operate, preferably, in horizontally
tral portion of housing 36, between the parallel reaches
sion 44, whereby relatively clean grain will be fed either
into the grain bin lil or delivered to discharge chute 84,
air under substantial pressure is fed from the lower por
being illustrated. Small rotary agitators 5l also may be 55 tion of the grain bin l0, as derived from the air pressure
mounted in the lower portions of bin lil and driven by
generating unit 22, for example, or other source, to the
any suitable means. The feed angers Sil, as seen from
lower end of elevator housing 30. Particularly the cen
extending, semi-cylindrical depressions S2 so as to be
of the flexible belt or chain 32, comprises passage means
capable of finally moving all of the grain from the bot 60 through which an air column may rise and be discharged
toms of the parallel lower portions of the bin 16 to and
through suitable combining means, such as interconnect
ing conduit 54, see FIGS. l and 5, for delivery into the
bottom of elevator housing 30 in order that the buckets
of the conveyor 32 may engage the grain to elevate it 65
for discharge into the tubular channel 42 adjacent the
upper end of the elevator. The feed angers 50 preferably
are interconnected at one end by drive belt or chain 55.
through the closed chute 40 in a substantially horizontal
or somewhat downwardly extending direction, as can be
visualized from FIG. 2. An air column moving through
said passage means effectively permeates and traverses
the falling grain as it is dumped successively from the
scoops or buckets of the bucket conveyor 32 when they
reach the upper portion of the elevator housing 30.
The falling grain passes through the closed chute 4€)
into the combined tubular channel 42 and extension 44
Also, movably mounted within conduit 54 is a flexible
impeller member 54’ which passes around suitable rotat 70 thereof, the grain then selectively is conducted either
able guide and support members, one of which is driven
through the tubular channel 42 into the upper portion of
the grain bin 10 when it is desired to load the bin 1t), or
by the right hand feed auger 59, as seen in FIG. 5.
to the extension 44 when unloading of the bin is to take
rThe conductor auger 48 preferably is driven from the
place by discharge of grain through the discharge chute
feed auger Sil by drive means including mechanism
capable of effecting reversal of direction of rotation of 75 84 at the outer end of extension 44.- The grain con
5
3,039,607'
ductor 48 is rotated in the correct direction to effect either
loading or unloading of the bin. By referring particularly
to FIG. 3, and assuming that the conductor auger 48 is
rotating in a direction to feed the grain toward the right,
as viewed in said ligure, into the tubular channel 42, it
will be seen that the channel 42 is substantially filled with
grain, whereby the same is substantially blocked to the
passage of air. Accordingly, the air which is discharged
under considerable pressure from the upper end of eleva
tor housing 30 and closed lateral chute 40 moves to the
left, as viewed in FIG. 3, carrying with it any entrained
dirt, chaff, and other foreign material for discharge
through the exhaust space 42.
The distance traveled by said air which is entrained
with foreign material preferably is relatively short, where
by there is little possibility of the air current dropping
said entrained material while traversing said distance.
However, the returning grain which is designated by di
'bin 1li are to be loaded. However, if it is found that dis
charge of the exhau-sting air current with entrained for
eign material -is not »functioning as desired, the outer end
of the discharge chute 84- may be provided with a suit
able cover l‘92 which is maintained in closed condition
by catch-‘94 when the grain cleaning operation is being
performed, but when the conductor auger 43 is being
rotated ‘in a direction to discharge the grain from exten
sion 44 as it is delivered thereto by the elevator, which
direction of rotation is simply opposite that when the
conductor auger is feeding grain into the bin lil, the cover
92 is held open by suitable means, such as snap catch 96.
IIt will be seen from the foregoing that, in addition -to
the present invention providing extremely simple, durable,
and inexpensively operable grain cleaning means, said
invention also provides equally simple, fool-proof, and
inexpensively operable conducting means for the grain
after it is elevated by the elevator lfrom the lower portion
rection arrows 86 in exemplary manner, is substantially
of the «bin to conveyor means comprising oppositely ex
heavier, at least per unit mass, than the particles of dirt, 20 tending, but longitudinally aligned, channel 42 and its
chaff, and the like, which is entrained by the air currents
extension 44. Hence, when the grain is discharged into
passing through said grain. Accordingly, the grain is
not carried out of the exhaust space S2 by the discharging
air current, but, rather, falls to the lower portion of ex
tension 44 and is moved along the bottom surface of the
extension, by the conductor auger 48, into bin 10.
Cleaning of grain by such air currents as are described
above also is accomplished while unloading the bin 10,
as when the conductor 48 is rotating in a direction to
Said conveyor means, simply 'by operating the manually
movable shifting lever 68 of the drive-changing unit 62,
the grain may be delivered to the bin or to the discharge
chute 84, respectively to load and unload the bin, without
requiring any shifting or rearranging of the conveyor
extension 44 or the upper end of the elevator.
While the invention has been described and illustrated
in its several preferred embodiments, it should be under
move the grain outwardly through extension channel 44 30 stood that the invention is not to be limited to the pre
to the discharge chute 84. Under such circumstances,
cise details herein illustrated and described since the
the grain will substantially lill channel extension 44, thus
same may tbe carried out in other ways falling within the
largely blocking the passage of any appreciable amount
scope of the invention as claimed.
of air therethrough. However, the tubular channel 42
I claim:
will be free of any substantial quantity of grain, whereby 35 1. A grain bin having in combination therewith, a grain
the air discharging from chute 4t) and entraining dirt,
elevator at one end of said bin, means to actuate said ele
chaff, and the like, will follow the path of least resistance
vator, substantially horizontal elongated channel means
which is outwardly through channel 42. The air current
having portions extending in opposite directions directly
and undesired foreign material carried thereby will exit
from each other and from said grain elevator, one of said
through the top opening 20 substantially, as indicated by 40 portions of said channel means extending along the upper
arrows 37 in FIG. l.
portion of ysaid bin and the other portion projecting out
From the foregoing, it thus will be seen that simply by
wardly from said elevator and said end of said bin for
using sources of air pressure which are available in a
directed external discharge to unload said hin, said chan
grain bin provided with air-type drying means and having
nel means communicating with and arranged to receive
a grain elevator at one end, it is possible, merely by pro 45 grain from said elevator, grain conducting means extend
viding for appropriate air passageways and a suitable
ing longitudinally along said channel means, and power
addition in the grain conveying channel means, such as
means connected to said grain conducting means and
»extension 44, to obtain highly effective means capable of
reversibly operable selectively to move said grain conduct
cleaning grain, incidentally to elevating the same, either
ing means in opposite directions respectively to conduct
to load or unload a grain bin, and with substantially no 50 grain from said elevator to said bin and to discharge grain
increase in cost to the operation of the grain bin, drying
from the projecting end of said elongated channel means.
means and grain elevator.
2. A grain bin and grain cleaner comprising in com
It is to be understood, in connection lwith the desired
bination, a grain bin, a grain elevator at one end of said
arrangement of the position and size of the exhaust space
bin having passage means to permit a column of air to be
82, the cover plates 80 may be made any desirable length 55 blown up said passage, means to actuate said elevator,
considered in the direction of the longitudinal dimension
means to generate air under pressure and direct it up said
of the extension 44, and suitable bolt or screw holes are
passage means, substantially horizontal elongated channel
formed in the plates and the flanges ’78 of the extension
means extending along the upper part of said grain bin
44 in order that the desired number and arrangement of
to and projecting outwardly of said -bin beyond said ele
plates may be effected to dispose the exhaust space 82 60 vator, the projecting portion of said channel means hav
where it is desired and of a desired area. The mere fact
ing an exhaust opening therein, said channel means be
that the illustrated plates Sli are substantially the same
ing arranged to receive grain from said elevator, a grain
size is not to be regarded as restrictive. For example,
in regard to heavier grains, the exhaust space 82 may be
conductor extending longitudinally along said channel
means and outwardly projecting portion thereof, and
arranged closer to the elevator housing 30 than when
grains of lighter weight are being cleaned and elevated.
By referring particularly to FIG. 3, it will be seen
that, in the preferred embodiment of the invention, the
power means connected to said grain conductor and oper
able to move the same in a direction to feed grain from
chute 8f4 may be moved to a number of different posi
tenial from said grain therethrough and thereby clean
said grain before delivery thereof to said bin.
3. A grain lbin and grain cleaner comprising in com~
the upper end of said elevator and along said channel
means and into said bin, said air pressure generating
discharge chute 84 has at least a cylindrical vertical por
means being operable to direct a column of air under
tion l88 which is connected by flange means 90 upon the 70 pressure up said elevator and through said outwardly
conveyor extension 44 so as to 'be rotatable about a sub-~
projecting portion of said channel means for discharge
stantially vertical axis, whereby the outer end of the
through the exhaust opening therein to blow foreign ma
tions «best suited for discharging grain into a truck orother conveyance into which the contents of the grain
3,039,607
bination, a grain bin, a grain elevator at one end of said
bin having passage means to permit a column of air to be
blown up said passage, a bucket conveyor movable with
in said elevator, means to actuate said bucket conveyor,
means to generate air under pressure and direct it up said
passage means, substantially lhorizontal elongated chan
nel means extending along the upper part of said grain
bin to and projecting outwardly of said bin beyond said
elevator, the projecting portion of said channel means
conduct grain from said elevator to said bin and to dis
charge grain from the spout on the projecting end of
said elongated means, said air-pressure generating means
being operable to direct a column of air under pressure up
said elevator and through said projecting portion of said
channel means for discharge through the exhaust opening
therein to blow foreign material from said grain and
thereby clean said grain before delivery thereof to said
bin.
9. A grain cleaner comprising in combination, a grain
having an exhaust opening therein and the upper end of 10 bin, a substantially vertical vgrain elevator at one end of
said bucket conveyor being guided for discharge above
said bin having passage means to permit a column of air
said channel means, thereby dispersing the grain as dis
to be blown up said passage, means to actuate said elevator,
charged thereinto, grain conductor means extending longi
means to .generate air under pressure and direct it up said
tudinally along said channel means and outwardly pro
passage means, substantially horizontal elongated chan
jecting portion thereof, and power means connected to
nel means extending in opposite directions from said grain
said grain conductor and operable to move the same in
elevator respectively along the upper part of said bin and
a direction to feed grain discharged from said elevator
projecting outwardly from the upper end of said grain ele
along said channel means and into said bin, said air pres
vator, said outwardly projecting portion having an exhaust
sure generating means being operable to direct a column
opening in the upper portion thereof and an open-ended
20
of air under pressure up said elevator for discharge
grain discharge spout adjacent the outer end thereof, said
through the dispersed grain as it falls into said channel
channel means being arranged to receive grain from the
means and thence moving through said outwardly pro
upper part of said elevator, lan auger-type grain conductor
jecting portion of said channel means for discharge
extending longitudinally along said channel means, power
through the exhaust opening therein to blow foreign mate
means connected to said grain conducting means and re
rial from said grain therethrough and thereby clean said 25 versibly operable selectively to rotate said grain conduct
grain before delivery thereof to said bin.
ing means in opposite directions respectively to conduct
4. The grain bin and grain cleaner set forth in claim 3
grain from said elevator to said bin and to discharge grain
fur-ther characterized by said bucket conveyor being sup
from the spout on the projecting end of said elongated
ported and guided at the upper end thereof by a sprocket
means, said air pressure generating means being operable
and said sprocket being albove and laterally offset from 30 to direct a column of air under pressure up said elevator
said channel means, the brackets on said conveyor also
and through said projecting portion of said channel means
being spaced apart sufficiently to permit ready passage o-f
for discharge through the exhaust opening therein to
air currents therethrough.
blow foreign material from said grain and thereby clean
5. The grain bin and grain cleaner set forth in claim 2
said grain before delivery thereof to said bin, and closure
further including cover members for the top of the pro 35 means for the open end of said discharge spout movable
jecting portion of said channel means, and attaching
between open and closed positions, whereby said closure
means detachably `connecting the cover member selective
covers the open end of said spout when in closed position
ly to desired positions upon said channel means with
to increase the effectiveness of the .cleaning of the grain
certain of said members spaced apart, thereby to form an
said column of air.
exhaust opening for the exit of air and entrained foreign 40 by 10.
A grain bin and grain cleaner comprising in combi
material.
nation, a grain bin, a grain elevator at one end of said
6. The grain bin and grain cleaner set forth in claim 5
bin having passage means to- permit a column of air to
further characterized by said grain conductor being close
be blown up said passage, means to actuate said elevator,
to the bottom of said channel means but spaced below
means to generate air under pressure and direct it up said
said cover members, thereby to provide a space to permit 45 passage means, substantially horizontal elongated channel
the ready discharge -of air through said exhaust open
means having a portion extending along the upper part of
ing.
said grain bin and a portion projecting outwardly from
7. The grain bin and grain cleaner set forth in claim 2
said bin and beyond said elevator, said portions of said
further including an open-ended discharge chute at the
channel means respectively having exhaust openings there
outer end of said outwardly projecting portion of said 50 in, said channel means being arranged to receive grain
channel means, and cover means for the open end of
from said elevator, an auger-type grain conductor extend
said discharge chute >movable between open and closed
ing longitudinally along said channel means into said re
position, whereby the open end of said chute may be
spective portions thereof, power means connected to said
closed by said cover when air is being discharged through
grain conductor and operable selectively to rotate the
the exhaust opening in said projecting portion of said 55 same in opposite directions respectively to feed grain
channel means to increase the effectiveness of removing
from said elevator along said portions of said channel
foreign matter from said grain.
means in said bin to load said bin and along said pro
8. A grain cleaner comprising in combination, a grain
jecting portion of said channel means to unload said bin,
bin, a substantially vertical grain elevator at one end of
said air pressure generating means being operable to direct
said bin having passage means to permit a column of air 60 a column of air under pressure up said elevator and
to be blown up said passage, means to actuate said ele
through said portions of said channel means for discharge
vator, means to generate lair under pressure and direct
through the exhaust openings in said portions to blow for
it up said passage means, substantially horizontal elon
eign material from said grain and thereby clean said grain
gated channel means extending in opposite directions from
either before delivery thereof to said bin or from said bin,
said grain elevator respectively along the upper part of 65 the foreign material being discharged through the exhaust
said bin and projecting outwardly from the upper end of
opening or" one portion of said channel means when grain
said grain elevator, said outwardly projecting portion hav
is discharged through the other portion thereof and vice
ing an exhaust opening in the upper portion thereof and a
versa.
grain discharge spout adjacent the outer end thereof, said
ll. A grain bin and grain cleaner comprising in com
channel means being arranged to receive grain from the
70 bination, a grain bin, a grain elevator at one end of said
bin having passage means to permit a column of air to
extending longitudinally along said channel means, and
be blown up said passage, means to actuate said elevator,
power means connected to said grain conducting means
means to generate air under pressure and direct itup said
and reversibly operable selectively to rotate said grain
upper part of said elevator, an auger-type grain conductor
conducting means in opposite directions respectively to 75 passage means, substantially horizontal elongated chan
3,039,607
10
nel means exte-nding along the upper part of said grain
bin to and projecting outwardly from said bin and beyond
13. A grain bin having in combination therewith, an
air compartment in said bin having air outlet opening
said elevator, the projecting portion of said channel
means, means to generate a supply of air under pressure
means having an exhaust opening in the upper portion
thereof, said channel means being arranged to receive
grain from said elevator, an auger-type grain conductor
and deliver it to said compartment for circulation there
from through grain in said bin, a grain elevator at one
end of said bin, means to actuate said elevator, substan
extending longitudinally along said channel means and
tially horizontal elongated channel means having portions
outwardly projecting portion thereof, and power means
extending in opposite directions from the upper portion
connected to said grain conductor and operable to rotate
of said grain elevator respectively along the upper por
the same in a direction to feed grain from the upper end 10 tion of said bin and projecting outwardly from said ele
of said elevator and along said channel means and into
vator `and end of said bin for selectively feeding grain
said bin, said air pressure generating means being oper
from the upper end of said elevator to said portion in
said -bin to load the »same and to said projecting portion
able to direct a column of air under pressure up said
elevator and through said projecting portion of said
to unload said bin, grain conducting means extending
channel means for discharge through the exhaust opening 15 longitudinally along said channel means, power means
therein to blow foreign material from said grain and
connected to said grain conducting means and reversibly
thereby clean said grain before delivery thereof to said
operable selectively .to move said grain conducting means
bin, the exhaust opening in said projecting portion of
in opposite directions respectively to conduct grain from
said channel means being spaced outwardly the-rein from
said elevator to said bin and to discharge grain from the
the upper end of said elevator that any grain entrained
projecting end of said elongated means, and means com
initially in said discharging air stream will drop by grav
municating with said air generating means and operable
ity into said auger-type conductor and feed the same along
to deliver a portion of the air generated thereby to the
said channel means to said bin.
upper portion of said elevator to entrain foreign material
12. A grain bin and grain cleaner comprising in com
and separate it from said grain to clean the same, said
bination, a grain bin, a grain elevator at one end of said 25 elevator being operable to move grain from the lower
bin having passage means to permit a column of air to
be blown up said passage, means to actuate said elevator,
means to generate air under pressure and direct it up said
portion of said bin and transfer it to the channel means
for delivery to the top of said bin, thereby effecting re
circulation of the grain in said bin as much as desired
passage means, substantially horizontal elongated chan
to produce a predetermined degree of drying of said grain
nel means having a portion extending along the upper 30 and coincidental cleaning thereof.
part of said grain bin and a portion projecting outwardly
14. The grain bin set forth in claim 1 further charac
from said bin and beyond said elevator, said channel
terized by said channel means being substantially con
means being arranged to receive grain from said elevator,
tinuous from end to end and the portions thereof pro
an auger-type grain conductor extending longitudinally
along said channel means into said respective portions 35 jecting respectively in opposite directions from said ele
vator having discharge means adjacent the outer ends
thereof, power means connected to said grain conductor
thereof, said grai-n conducting means comprising a con
and operable selectively to rotate the same in opposite
tinuous auger substantially coextensive in length with said
directions respectively to feed grain from said elevator
channel means, and said auger intermediately of the ends
along said portion of said channel means in said bin to
load said bin and along said projecting portion of said 40 thereof extending past said elevator, whereby said auger
extends in opposite directions from said elevator.
channel means to unload said bin, said air pressure gen
erating means being operable to direct a column of air
under pressure up said elevator and selectively through
References Cited in the ñle of this patent
said portions of said channel means for discharge there
UNITED STATES PATENTS
from to blow foreign material from said grain and there 45
by clean said grain either before delivery thereof to said
626,108
Stuckel _____________ __ May 30, 1899
bin or from said bin, the foreign material being discharged
1,562,946
Dowdall _____________ __ Nov. 24, 1925
through one of said portions while grain is fed in an
opposite direction through the other portion of said chan
nel means and vice versa.
50
1,615,334
2,239,256
2,856,083
MacGregor __________ .__ Jan. 25, 1927
Siren _______________ _.. Apr. 22, 1941
Corrigan ____________ __ Oct. 14, 1958